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7 Psoriasis Myths Debunked

Psoriasis myths exist, even among people who deal with psoriasis every day. Get the facts about psoriasis to stay in control of your condition.

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), up to 60 percent of people with psoriasis say that their disease causes significant problems with everyday life, and the more severe the psoriasis, the more problems it can cause.

If you have psoriasis, you undoubtedly know the basics: that it’s not contagious and has nothing to do with hygiene, and that you’ve got to stay on top of your treatment to keep psoriasis symptoms and skin lesions at bay. But how much do you really know about how psoriasis affects the mind and body?

Debunk these seven common psoriasis myths to help you understand what having psoriasis ultimately means for your health and well-being:

Myth: Psoriasis is just a skin condition.

Fact: Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that can affect the entire body.

“Psoriasis is now considered a systemic — or body-wide — inflammatory condition because it’s linked to a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, and stroke,” says Theresa Devere, MD, a dermatologist with Kaiser Permanente in Honolulu.

Severe psoriasis raises the risk for a serious cardiac event by 58 percent and the risk for stroke by 43 percent, according to the NPF. Having severe psoriasis also increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes by 46 percent, and people with psoriasis are also more at risk for obesity, cancer, and Crohn's disease.

Myth: People with psoriasis should always get vaccinated to stay healthy.

Make sure that you stay current on routine vaccinations, but before you’re vaccinated, get guidelines from your doctor. “People with psoriasis aren’t at higher risk of infection or illness unless they’re being treated with medications that suppress their immune system,” Dr. Devere says. This includes biologic medications, which impede the immune system’s ability to defend against infection. People taking biologics should only receive inactivated vaccines, in which the viruses are completely killed, rather than so-called live vaccines.

Myth: Only skin lesions from psoriasis cause itching.

Fact: Your skin may itch even where you don't have any psoriasis lesions.

“Some people have psoriasis that itches severely, and others don’t have much itch at all,” Devere says. “The itch isn’t always related to the areas that have active psoriasis lesions.” Also, the intensity of the itch isn’t representative of the severity of the psoriasis.

To keep itching in check, the NPF suggests keeping skin well moisturized, taking cool showers and using cold packs to relieve itch, and sticking to the medication regimen prescribed by your doctor.

Myth: Psoriasis doesn’t affect mental health.

Fact: People with psoriasis are at double the risk for depression.

Psoriasis boosts the risk for both depression and anxiety, according to the NPF. And the more severe your psoriasis symptoms are, the more likely you are to suffer from depression. Psoriasis symptoms may trigger depression so severe that you also have double the risk of having suicidal thoughts.

Emotional stress is a major trigger of psoriasis symptoms, so even without depression, do your best to manage stress and emotions with regular exercise, meditation, and plenty of support.

Fact: Psoriasis treatment should include both medication and healthy lifestyle changes.

Exercise and weight loss can help improve psoriasis and your overall health, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Following a heart-healthy diet, one that includes fish, lean skinless protein, and low-fat dairy, and limiting your alcohol intake can help protect your skin and your heart, according to the NPF.

If you don’t see improvement in your skin right after starting a new psoriasis treatment, don’t give up. “It can take several weeks for psoriasis medications to take full effect,” Dr. Zeichner says. Topical treatments may show results in a week or two, but others need longer. “Some of the systemic medications take up to a month to provide significant improvement in psoriasis symptoms,” he says.

Fact: Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a painful and potentially disabling form of arthritis. "People at highest risk for psoriatic arthritis are those with severe psoriasis and nail psoriasis,” Devere says. According to the NPF, 85 percent of people with psoriatic arthritis will first have psoriasis, but it's possible to develop the joint disease first.